Means for throwing life-lines.



PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

C. H. BANKS.

MEANS FOR THROWING LIFE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1.907.

t m 1 l e v n 3 A w FL.

W6 m was r Adm/u UNITED sTA rEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BANKS, OF NORFOLK, VIRGII II.A. I

MEANS FOR THROWING LIFE-LINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed Febru ry 2, 1907. Serial No. 355,515.

' Lines; and' I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view on a smaller scale with the projectile released.

The invention relates to improvements in life saving. apparatus and has more particular relation to life lines'and means for throwing the same.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts comprising a cartrid e shell adapted for the reception of an exp osive, a rojectile mounted in said cartridge shell, an a line also mounted in said cartridge shell and having its 0 posite ends connected to the same and to t e projectile.

The invention also consists of certain other novel constructions and combinations of parts, all of which are hereinafter more fully set forth.

The gun employed may be of any desired breech loading type adapted to receive the cartridge and projectile embodying my invention.

In the accompanyin drawings the letter a, designates the life Iine cartridge. This cartridge comprises essentially a cartridge shell proper, b, a rojectile c, mounted in the forward end of t e same, the powder or explosive, and a flexible line or connection. The shell I), may be of any desired material and construction,- and is provided at its flanged end with a cap d, and a screw threaded aperture e, the latter being intended for the reception of a screw threaded plug f, having an eye g, to which one end of a coiled wire line 20, is connected. The powder or other explosive designed to be placed in the shell I), in front of the cap d, is preferably contained in a receptacle h, of some textile material which will not obstruct the ignition of the charge when the cap is exploded. The wire w, connected to the plug f, passes along the inside of the shell I), by this powder bag h, and through the center of a wad 7c, mounted in said shell in front of said powder bag. The wire is formed into a coil in the shell I), and passes at the forward end through a wad mounted in said shell. The projectile c, is mounted/in the forward end of the shell I), and comprises a hollow portion or casing t, and a weighted head m. This head 'm, is preferably connected to the outer end of the case 25, by screws or rivets 3, although it may be connected in ,any other suitable manner, such for instance as by screw threads. The forward end of the head m, is provided with a whistle s, so that during flight its position can be indicated by the sound emitted from this whistle. Said head is also provided internally with a loop or screw eye 1), to which the other or forward end of the flexible line is connected. Usually this portion of the line 2, is wound approximately like the thread upon asp'ool, with the exception that it is a a ted to be removed from the center outwar It may be made of hemp or other strong material and its rear end is provided with a bead 4, and passes througha plug a, mounted in a partition n, in the rear end of the casing t. This rear end of the line 2, is connected to the forward end of the coiled Wire line w, the latter being preferably of co per.

It will be observed from t e. foregoing description that when the powder or other explosive is ignited through the medium of the cap, the wire coil and the projectile, with its casing, will be ejected from the gun; and that after the wire of said coil has become fully unwound the bead on its rear end will make a sudden pull against the plug u, and thus remove the same from the partition, and permit the line 2, to pay out from the shell.

By so constructing my device that the metallic wire is first unwound, uncovering the line 2, I prevent the latter from being scorched or burned from the roducts of combustion of the explosive. T e wire line is of sufficient length to permit the projectile to pass some little distance from the gun before the line 2, commences to pay out from its casing. The invention is intended primarily for use at life saving stations upon the, sea-board, although I do not care to lirmt myself to this application, as it may be employed to advantage in-throwing lines over buildings and other great elevations where means of communication can be established otherwise only with great vdifliculty. By the peculiar winding of the line 2, so that it may e unwound fromits center outward, all liability of the tangling of said line is obviated and the line is permitted to pay out rapidly and evenly from its containing casing during the flight of the projectile.

By means of this invention it isdesigned to throw a line from 1,000 to 4,000 feet or further, and with a precision that would enable it to be directed to the point desired.

The invention may be also aptly employed onsea-going vessels, so that in case of storm or shipwreck a line may be thrown to the shore and communication thus opened be tween the vessel and the shore, without the assistance of alife saving station.

"What I claim and deslre to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a life line device, the combination with a cartridge shell adapted for the reception of explosives, of a projectile mounted in the same, and a line loosely mounted in said cartridge shell and havin its opposite ends connected to said shell and to said projectile, substantially as described. a

2. In a life liner device, thecombination with a cartridge shell adapted for the rece tion of an explosive, of a hollow project1 e mounted in the same, a lineconnected to and coiled in said projectile and having its rear end connected to the cartridge shell, whereby upon the explosion of the charge in the latter.

assess the projectile in its fli ht unwinds the line, substantialll asdescri ed.

3. In a 1i e linedevice, the combination witha cartridge shell adapted for the rece tion of an explosive, of a hollow pr'ojecti e mounted therein, a line coiled in said hollow projectile, and an auxiliary metallic line mounted in said cartridge shell and connected to the latter and to the line in the projectile, substantially as described.

4. In a life line device, the combination with a cartridge shell adapted for the reception of an explosive, of a line mounted In said shell and connected thereto, a projectlle also mounted in said shell and connected to said line, and a whistle mounted in the forward end of the projectile, substantially as described.

5. In a life line device, the combination with a cartridge shell adapted for the reception of an explosive, of a metallic linemounted in the same and connected thereto, a hollow rojectile also mounted in said cartridge shel a line mounted in said projectile and connected to the metallic line in the cartrldge shell, and a whistle mounted in said projectile, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 1n presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H.,IBANK S.I

Witnesses:

M. MOADAM, S. W; Goonwm. 

